Apparatus for removing foreign material from a fiber processing line

ABSTRACT

A fiber processing machine includes a generally vertically oriented feed chute having an upper portion and a lower portion; a device for introducing fiber material into the upper chute portion; a clothed fiber opening roll supported for rotation in the lower chute portion; a withdrawing roll adjoining the opening roll and supported for rotation for drawing fiber material in the feed chute and for forwarding the fiber material to the opening roll; an optical sensor system supported above the opening roll laterally of the feed chute for detecting foreign material carried on the clothing of the opening roll along with the fiber material; an air stream generating device for directing an air blast to the clothing of the opening roll; and a control-and-regulating device for operating the air stream generating device upon detecting foreign material by the optical sensor system to remove and carry away the foreign material from the clothing of the opening roll by an air blast.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of German Application No. 198 06 892.1 filed Feb. 19, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for removing foreign material from a rapidly rotating fiber opening roll of a fiber processing machine which may form part of a fiber processing line. The clothing of the opening roll is associated with at least one feed roll (also referred to hereafter as withdrawing roll), a cover and an optical sensor system for recognizing foreign material. The optical sensor system is connected with an electric control-and-regulating device which, in turn, is coupled to a device which removes the foreign material and which includes a mechanism for generating an air blast directed to the clothing of the opening roll for dislodging and carrying away the foreign material from the clothing of the opening roll.

German Offenlegungsschrift (application published without examination) No. 195 43 526 discloses an apparatus in which two slowly rotating feed rolls laterally cooperate with the opening roll for advancing the fiber material thereto. Guide plates are provided for maintaining the co-rotating air screen on the opening roll. At the lower end of the opening roll a sensor device is disposed for optically recognizing foreign bodies in the fiber tufts. The sensor device is disposed in a collecting chamber for the separated foreign parts. Between the guide plate and a knife an aperture is provided through which, for a short period of time, an air blast is directed from below in an oblique orientation to that region of the roll surface where the fiber tufts contain the foreign bodies. As a result, the contaminated fiber tufts are blown off the roll surface and are subsequently carried away.

It is a disadvantage of the above-outlined prior art device that it needs substantial space because of the lateral introduction of the fiber tufts from a laterally arranged accumulator, conveyor or the like and also because of the arrangement of the optical sensor device, together with the air-blast generating source, in the region underneath the opening roll. It is a particular drawback that the optical sensor device and the air-blast generating device are situated in the waste collecting chamber. This may lead to significant operational disturbances and down times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved fiber processing machine of the above-outlined type from which the discussed disadvantages are eliminated and which, in particular, is structurally simple and compact.

This object and others to become apparent as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which, briefly stated, the fiber processing machine includes a generally vertically oriented feed chute having an upper portion and a lower portion; a device for introducing fiber material into the upper chute portion; a clothed fiber opening roll supported for rotation in the lower chute portion; a withdrawing roll adjoining the opening roll and supported for rotation for drawing fiber material in the feed chute and for forwarding the fiber material to the opening roll; an optical sensor system supported above the opening roll laterally of the feed chute for detecting foreign material carried on the clothing of the opening roll along with the fiber material; an air stream generating device for directing an air blast to the clothing of the opening roll; and a control-and-regulating device for operating the air stream generating device upon detecting foreign material by the optical sensor system to remove and carry away the foreign material from the clothing of the opening roll by an air blast.

The fiber material is supplied to the opening roll through the substantially vertical feed chute from above by means of the withdrawing rolls which also serve as feed rolls for the opening rolls and adjoin the upper region of the opening roll. As a result, horizontal space is saved in the blow room. The optical sensor system which includes a camera, is also situated above the opening roll in the vicinity of the feed chute, leading to a compact structural arrangement. It is a further advantage of the invention that the optical sensor system is not adversely affected by waste, dust, fiber fly or the like.

The invention has the following additional advantageous features:

The optical sensor system is situated upstream of the air flow generating device, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the opening roll.

The optical system includes a pivotal diode-line camera arranged in the vicinity of the feed chute.

The suction air stream tears fibers containing

foreign bodies from the opening roll.

A lateral space is provided which is approximately parallel to the optical sensor device and into which the air stream carrying removed fibers and foreign bodies may enter and expand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a fiber opening, cleaning and carding line incorporating the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of a fiber processing line similar to FIG. 1 incorporating two apparatuses according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention including a feed chute and an after-connected opening roll as well as foreign material recognition and removal devices.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional side elevational view of an optical sensor system forming part of the invention and including a camera disposed adjacent a feed chute and oriented toward the opening roll.

FIG. 4a is a schematic sectional side elevational view of the camera of FIG. 4, illustrated in a position pivoted away from the opening roll.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional elevational view of a device generating an air blast tangentially to an opening roll and having means for removing the air stream carrying foreign material.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of an air expansion and waste collecting chamber forming part of the invention.

FIG. 6a is a schematic side elevational view of an air expansion and waste collecting chamber designed as a removable carriage.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional side elevational view of a device for separating fiber material from the air stream.

FIG. 7a is a sectional view taken along line VIIa—VIIa of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a fiber processing line whose first machine is a bale opener 1 which may be a BLENDOMAT BDT model, manufactured by Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG, Mönchengladbach, Germany. Between the bale opener 1 and a fiber mixer 5 a high-capacity condenser 2 is arranged which is followed by a feed chute 3 and a fiber transporting fan 4. The mixer 5 is followed by a further fiber transporting fan 6, a fiber separator 7, a feeding device 8 and a multi-roll cleaner 9. The cleaner 9 is followed by the apparatus 10 according to the invention which, in turn, is adjoined in the downstream direction by at least one card feeder 11 and one carding machine 12 which may be, for example, an EXACTACARD DK model manufactured by Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG. Underneath the bale opener 1 a bale series 1 a is positioned (only one bale is visible); the bale opener 1 travels over the bale series 1 a in a direction perpendicular to the plane of drawing FIG. 1 while it removes fiber material from the top of the fiber bales. The above-described machines are serially connected by pneumatic conduits 13. It is noted that the directions “upstream” and “downstream” are related to the direction in which the fiber material travels through the fiber processing line.

Turning to FIG. 2, in the cotton cleaning line shown therein the mixer 5 is followed by a branch-off device 14 whose conduits 13′, 13″ lead to respective sawtooth cleaners 9′, 9″, each of which may be a CLEANOMAT CVT model, manufactured by Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG. Downstream of each sawtooth cleaner 9′, 9″ respective apparatuses 10′ and 10″ structured according to the invention are connected which, in turn, are followed by card feeders 11′, 11″ and associated carding machines 12′, 12″. Upstream of the mixer 5 a dual-roll cleaner 42 is positioned which may be an AXI-FLO model manufactured by Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG.

Turning to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a substantially vertical tuft feed chute 15 has, at its lower end, two slowly rotating feed rolls (withdrawing rolls) 16 a and 16 b which introduce fiber material to a rapidly rotating opening roll 17 having a clothing 17 a and a direction of rotation 17 b. The withdrawing rolls 16 a, 16 b which rotate in the direction 16 ₁, and 16 ₂, respectively, are situated in the immediate vicinity of the clothing 17 a of the opening roll 17. A camera 20, such as a CCD line camera of an optical sensor system 19 which also includes an electronic evaluating device 21 for recognizing foreign bodies, is directed to the clothing 17 a of the opening roll 17. The sensor system 19 recognizes foreign bodies and particles, particularly those which deviate in lightness and color from the fiber material to be processed. The sensor system 19 is connected by means of an electronic control and regulating device 22 with a device 23 for removing the foreign bodies. The device 23 generates a short-duration, powerful air stream (air blast) oriented toward the clothing 17 a for dislodging and carrying away foreign bodies with a small quantity of fibers from the clothing 17 a.

A fiber transporting fan 25 pneumatically introduces fiber material into an upper inlet opening of the feed chute 15. A stationary, air-pervious surface (screen) 26 arranged at the top of the feed chute 15 separates the fiber material from the air stream which thus exits the feed chute 15, while the fiber material proceeds toward the withdrawing rolls 16 a, 16 b. Further in the upper part of the feed chute 15 an air stream guiding device 27 having movable elements is disposed for effecting a back-and-forth agitation of the fiber material at the inner face of the screen 26 as the air stream separates therefrom and passes through the screen 26. Eventually, the fiber material, substantially by gravity, drops down into the feed chute 15. The rolls 16 a, 16 b have a dual function: they serve as withdrawing rolls for the fiber material by pulling it downwardly in the feed chute 15 and also serve as feed rolls for presenting the fiber material to the opening roll 17.

The solid arrows in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 7 a illustrate fiber material flow, while the empty arrows indicate air streams without fibers and the half solid, half empty arrows designate fiber-laden air streams.

The camera 20 is situated, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, obliquely above the opening roll 17 in the vicinity of the outer wall 15 a of the feed chute 17, whereby a compact, space-saving construction is obtained. The camera 20 is oriented towards the clothing 17 a of the opening roll 17 and is capable of recognizing colored foreign material such as red fibers in the fiber flow. The range of the camera 20 includes the full axial length of the opening roll 17 which may be, for example, 1 m. As viewed in the direction of rotation 17 b of the opening roll 17, downstream of the optical sensor system 19 the device 23 for generating a pneumatic stream is arranged which has a nozzle 23 a oriented in the direction of the clothing 17 a of the opening roll 17 in such a manner that a short-duration, powerful air stream flows to the clothing 17 a, approximately tangentially thereto. The sensor system 19 is coupled via the evaluating device 21 and the electronic control-and-regulating device 22 with the air-blast generating device 23 which includes a valve control device 24. When the camera 20, based on comparison values or desired values, detects foreign material in the fiber mass situated on the clothing 17 a, the valve control device 24 sends a command to the device 23 to emit a short, high-speed air blast toward the clothing 17 a to remove the foreign material from the fiber layer on the clothing 17 a with a small number of fibers.

The sensor system 19 is accommodated in a housing 56 which, as shown in FIG. 4a, may be pivoted inwardly and outwardly about a stationary rotary support 57.

Turning to FIG. 5, the two withdrawing rolls 16 a and 16 b are arranged obliquely above the rotary axis M of the opening roll 17, adjacent the clothing 17 a thereof. As viewed in the rotary direction 17 b, downstream of the withdrawing rolls 16 a, 16 b a cover 28, a cover element 29, an opening 30, a cover element 31, an opening 32 and a cover element 33 are arranged in a circumferential series about the opening roll 17. The device 23 is coupled to a pressurized air source 25′. The valve control device 24 opens a non-illustrated valve of the separating device 23 for a short period so that a strong air jet D₁ with a high speed of, for example, 15-25 m/sec is discharged by the nozzle 23 a of the separating device 23. Expediently, a non-illustrated nozzle bank with several linearly arranged nozzles 23 a is provided which extends over the width (axial length) of the opening roll 17. The cover 29 and a guide face 34 a of an oppositely situated guide element 34 are arranged conically with respect to one another and have, at their narrowest clearance, a distance a from one another through which the air stream D₂ passes in such a manner that it flows at a small distance from the clothing 17 a. As a result, a suction stream F₁ is generated (based on the principle of a water jet pump) which, for a short period of time, locally tears away a small quantity of fibers together with the foreign material from the fiber layer carried on the clothing 17 a. The guide element 34 has a rounded nose 34 b and a further guide face 34 c which, together with an oppositely disposed deflecting element 35, forms a channel 36 for guiding the air stream F₂ away from the opening roll 17. An air stream G flows in the direction of the opening roll 17 through a channel 37 toward the opening 32 for dislodging the fiber layer from the clothing 17 a and flows through a channel 38 as a fiber-laden stream H.

Turning to FIG. 6, laterally of the feed chute 15 and the optical sensor system 19 a receptacle 39 is disposed, having a wall 39 a provided with an opening connected to the channel 36. The fiber-laden air stream F2 enters the inner chamber 39 e of the receptacle 39. The volume of the chamber 39 e is designed such that the air stream F₂ expands and its velocity significantly drops. The chamber 39 e at the same time serves as a collecting space for the separated fiber material containing the foreign bodies. The side walls 39 a, 39 b and the top wall 39 c of the receptacle 39 are formed as air-pervious screens to allow the air stream to be separated from the foreign material and to thus exit the receptacle 39. In the plane of the side wall 39 b an access door 40 is provided through which the waste collected in the chamber 39 e may be periodically removed. Between the end of the channel 36 and the opening in the wall 39 a an air-pervious slide 41 is provided which is displaceable in the direction of the two arrows when the access door 40 is opened or, respectively, closed. Preferably, the receptacle 39 is of upright design, whereby horizontal space may be saved. As shown in FIG. 6a, the receptacle 39 is part of a wheeled carriage which may be connected to or disconnected and moved away from the channel 36. The further wall faces of the receptacle 39 oriented perpendicularly to the walls 39 a, 39 b are not illustrated.

As shown in FIG. 7, the fiber material transporting fan 25 is arranged laterally of the wall 15 b of the feed chute 15. The fan 25 blows the fiber-laden air stream A (discharged, for example, by an upstream-arranged machine of the fiber processing line) through the conduit 43 into a chamber 44 in which the stationary, semi-cylindrical, air-pervious screen 26 is provided for separating the fiber material B from the air stream. The air stream C thus stripped of the fiber material (but still containing dust) passes through the screen 26 into the chamber 45 and exits through an outlet 46. The conduit 43 is adjoined by an air guiding device 27 having movable elements, whereby a reversible, back-and-forth guidance of the material in the air stream may be effected, and the fiber material B, after impinging on the air-pervious surface 26, drops downwardly essentially by gravity and is introduced into the feed chute 15. The outlet end of the conveying conduit 43 merges into the chamber 44 approximately tangentially to the screen 26. During operation, the stream A, after impinging on the screen 26, sweeps therealong and thus has a cleaning effect thereon. The perforations (meshes) of the screen 26 have a size which is sufficient to allow passage of the dust-laden air stream C and small impurities on the fiber tufts but prevents passage of the fiber tufts B.

Turning to FIG. 7a, the earlier-noted back-and-forth guidance of the fiber-laden air stream A is effected by a pair of oscillating guide plates 27 a, 27 b whose surfaces are essentially parallel to one another and are driven, for example, by a motor 47. The outlet opening of the conduit 43 is situated in the space between the two guide plates 27 a, 27 b.

The invention also encompasses an embodiment in which the feed chute 15 serves as a fiber accumulator in a cleaning line such as shown in FIG. 1. Expediently, the feed chute 15 has a filling height regulating device including, for example, an optical barrier or the like, and further, the rpm of one or both withdrawing rolls 16 a, 16 b may be regulated. Preferably an electronic control-and-regulating device such as a microcomputer 22 is provided to which there are connected the setting member for the rpm of at least one of the feed rolls 16 a, 16 b and at least one measuring member sensing the fill level in the after-connected card feeder chutes 11 for the cards 12. Expediently, at the card feeders 11 electronic pressure switches are used as measuring members, and to the control-and-regulating device 22 an element is connected for determining a basic operating rpm as a function of the sum of all productions of the cards 12.

The invention also encompasses an embodiment in which the optical sensor system 19 is installed in a multi-roll cleaner 9 (FIG. 1) and is associated with a first opening roll, whereas the device 23 for generating the air blast is associated with the last opening roll, as viewed in the direction of fiber travel through the cleaner.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In a fiber processing machine including a fiber opening roll supported for rotation and having a clothing arranged circumferentially thereon; a withdrawing roll adjoining said opening roll and supported for rotation for forwarding the fiber material to said opening roll; an optical sensor system for detecting foreign material carried on said opening roll along with said fiber material; an air stream generating device for directing an air blast to said clothing; and a control-and-regulating device; said optical sensor system and said air stream generating device being connected to said control-and-regulating device for operating said air stream generating device upon detecting foreign material by said optical sensor system to remove and carry away the foreign material from said clothing of said opening roll by an air blast; the improvement comprising a substantially vertically oriented feed chute for guiding the fiber material therein; said feed chute having a lower end; said withdrawing roll and said opening roll being disposed at said lower end; and said optical sensor system being supported above said opening roll and laterally of said feed chute.
 2. The fiber processing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical sensor system is disposed upstream of said air stream generating device as viewed in a direction of rotation of said opening roll during operation.
 3. The fiber processing machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical sensor system comprises a camera.
 4. The fiber processing machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said camera is a color line camera.
 5. The fiber processing machine as defined in claim 3, further comprising a mounting device for attaching said camera to said feed chute externally thereof.
 6. The fiber processing machine as defined in claim 5, wherein said mounting device includes means for pivotally supporting said camera.
 7. The fiber processing machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising a housing accommodating said optical sensor system; said housing being pivotally supported adjacent said feed chute. 